The Datamax Thinking Blog

Educating, collaborating, and sparking ideas for maximizing the technology that matters.


Unified Firmware Platform: A Steady Stream of Canon Copier Security

Canon’s Unified Firmware Platform (UFP) allows Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE models to be updated with cutting-edge features, new functionality, and enhanced security measures on an ongoing basis.

Steady moving streams are critical to the quality and supply of drinking water, ensuring a continuous flow of clean water and recharging of underground aquifers.

Topics: Office Equipment Security Canon MFP Security

5 Signs Your Old Copier Could Be Creating Security Vulnerabilities

Many SMBs fail to recognize the copier for what it is today — just another device on the network, as susceptible to cyber attack as an email inbox or web browser.

"If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."

I see this old, tired adage at play frequently when I visit offices and learn more about their printing environment. Whether it’s due to low volumes, reluctance to incur new costs, or just flat-out comfort factor, many businesses run their decade-plus-old copiers into the ground, much like one would an older vehicle that’s been paid for.

Topics: Office Equipment Print Management Security Cybersecurity MFP Security

3 Best Practices for Filling the Healthcare IT Security Gap

Nearly a third of all respondents (32%) said that they had never received cybersecurity training from their workplace but should have.

Healthcare today has its share of gaps: Gaps in healthcare access, gaps in the treatment of chronic diseases, and gaps in communication between patient and provider.

But what about the existing gaps in a medical facility's IT security plan?

Topics: Network Management Network Security Healthcare Tips and Tools MFP Security

Information Security and Why You Need a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment

You want to be HIPAA-compliant? You need to perform a risk assessment.

It shouldn't be a surprise to know that security research shows that the healthcare industry is a prime target for hackers and assorted cybercriminals.

From insurance companies to small doctors offices to research facilities to hospitals, all have a treasure-trove of personal information that criminals are itching to get their hands on.

Not involved in the healthcare industry? If you're reading this and are in manufacturing, financial services, government, or transportation; those round out the top five targets.

“Only” a small business and think you're safe?

Topics: Network Management Managed Services IT Consulting Network Security Security Healthcare Tips and Tools Data Back-Up MFP Security

Want to Be HIPAA-compliant? Include Your Digital Copiers in Your Strategy

HIPAA was passed 20 years ago this year. It's only in the past two years that guidance on digital copiers and other office equipment has been included within the regulation.

Both the risk and the cost of data breaches in the healthcare industry are going up. Technological advances are providing valuable case-wide "interoperability" while also creating much higher risks of losses and breaches. Evolving healthcare information security regulations are creating duties for a broader scope of healthcare enterprises. At the center of the two are the health IT experts who must ensure both document security and easy accessibility by authorized users while protecting against an expanding and deepening pool of technological threats. Some of those threats are surprising:

One takes the shape of the innocuous office copier.

Topics: Healthcare Tips and Tools MFP Security

Copier Security in a Healthcare Environment: Biometrics and HID Cards

You have to include your copier in your HIPAA-compliance planning. Biometrics and HID cards can be used to reduce risk of information going astray.

Twenty years have passed since the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) became federal law. By now, you are probably familiar with HIPAA's requirements to protect your patients' health information and have implemented various security measures to keep that data private. But there's one area you might have overlooked in your risk analysis: the copy machine. Learn about the possible security risks posed by your office copier and ways to minimize those risks.

Topics: Office Equipment Security Healthcare Tips and Tools MFP Security